Where to buy earrings with real gem stones?

[starlingdarling]

After a lifetime of cubic zirconia, I'm looking to treat myself to earrings with real gemstones. Either emeralds or sapphires paired with diamonds (tough choice!). I don't have a Cartier budget but I'm looking for something good quality that I can wear for years to come. Up to £2,000 but preferably less! Does anyone have any suggestions of where to buy?

Wolf and Badger might be a good place to start. Lots of independent small retailers and, as my credit card will attest, lots of them sell beautiful gemstone jewellery.

If you want modern jewellery, there are lots of small craft jewellers on the internet . Or for older styles (and often better value) small family jewellers tend to sell second hand items.

I would go to a physical jeweller in somewhere like the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham or Hatton Garden in London. Somewhere where there are multiple retailers for a bit of competition. You might even find that you could have something unique made for the same price as a high street jeweller. Also try auction houses, antique shops and jewellery pawn shops for good value and nice stones (plus better ethically to buy secondhand stones). You’ll likely get more for your money and may find something a bit unusual.

Either way, I definitely wouldn’t be buying fine jewellery online.I want to see it in person first, see the stones, see the cut, see the finish and the settings.

It depends where in the country you are
I travel all over buying antique jewellery
If you are in the South East take a trip to the lanes in Brighton
anywhere near Lincoln try the antiques centres at Hemswell Cliff
I love a trip to the jewellery quarter in Birmingham or Hatton garden if I’m in London
Chester and York also have some great antique jewellers
You should get something amazing for your budget if you don’t mind second hand

Alison Moore?

I had some sapphire platinum studs made in the Brimingham jewellery Quarter for under half of your budget.

Check out Ruth Tomlinson. Her jewellery is beautiful.

Agree with PP - depending on your location I would go to the Jewellery Quarter, Hatton Garden, or the Lanes. If you would consider antique or preloved you will get a lot more for your money. I have some beautiful antique earrings from a shop in the Lanes. The stones and setting are original and they have been set on new posts for hygiene.

Ah, going to a shop wasn't what I wanted to hear. I hate shopping in person but I guess I should give Birmingham a go. I'm a little closer to London but it's more expensive to travel to and my only experience of the lanes in Brighton left me feeling claustrophobic and wanting to get out.

I did try to find second hand but I'm looking for classic small teardrop earrings (see photos) and there wasn't much online. The details of what you were buying in terms of gem quality were also very very vague. Even the diamond studs varied by several hundred pounds without detail of cut/clarity/colour.

Blue Nile www.bluenile.com/uk/jewellery/gemstone-jewellery/gemstone-earrings/all

I have a ring from Purely diamonds. I can't see much on their site now but they used to do a bespoke service. Try contacting them www.purelydiamonds.co.uk/collection/gemstone-rings

If you don’t want to go to an independent jeweller try Etsy. Lots of lovely, unique pieces on there.

Gemstone teardrop earrings

Have you been to Hatton Garden? The road itself is more open, if I remember correctly, than the Lanes. Obviously the shops are individual units and some are small.

This jeweller is amazing for pre loved items. No vat on it. My engagement ring is platumand diamonds and worth every penny.

mortimersjewellers.co.uk/

Sorry don’t know why everything’s underlined.